This document provides guidelines for writing dialogue in sentences. It explains that commas or quotation marks are used to set off the exact words spoken by a character from the rest of the sentence. Question marks and exclamation points go inside the quotation marks if the entire quote is a question or exclamation. Some examples are given to illustrate these punctuation rules for integrating dialogue into sentences.

1. Absent People
Masenhimer, Period 2
November 15, 2010
Dialogue
I. Dialogue
A. Commas are used to set off the words of
the speaker from the rest of the sentence
a. ex. “Oh Petey is here to pay me a
visit,” Mr. Masenhimer said, “now don’t
everyone come rushing over to see.”
B. An exclamation point or a question mark
separates the speaker’s words from the rest
of the sentence.
a. ex. “Is that really Petey?” Mr.
Masenhimer asked.
C. The speaker’s exact words are placed
within quotation marks.
a. ex. “We’re happy she’s back, but
she’s not that cool.” Mr. Masenhimer
exclaimed.
II. Practice Write Source p. 126
A. Mom asked What time does the party
start?

2. a. Mom asked, “What time does the
party start?”
B. Ben said Right after supper.
a. Ben said, “Right after supper.”
C. You have to finish your homework first
she reminded him.
a. “You have to finish your homework
first,” she reminded him.
D. He answered I’ll start right now.
a. He answered, “I’ll start right now.”
E. I’ll be right down he added because I just
finished.
a. “I’ll be right down,” he added,
“because I just finished.”